Julia Nicosia can’t help but have a huge smile on her face as she’s crowned Agawam’s 2025 colleen by Rachel Sills, the 2024 colleen, at the Agawam St. Patrick’s Committee’s coronation ceremony on Feb. 8.
Reminder Publishing photo by Mike Lydick
AGAWAM — As a child growing up in Agawam, Julia Nicosia dreamed of being a colleen and doing the princess wave while riding on a float in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade.
That dream began when she and a group of other Girl Scouts sat on an Agawam parade float stored at Six Flags New England. “I was about 7 or 8 years old and we were waving to people,” she said.
Her “little self” never forgot that experience. It finally became a reality on Feb. 8 when Nicosia was crowned the Agawam St. Patrick’s Committee’s 2025 colleen at its 23rd coronation celebration. She was shocked when she learned she was the new colleen.
“My jaw dropped and my eyes widened when they called the last name — and it wasn’t me being called to step forward for the court. That’s when I realized I was the colleen,” said Nicosia.
When Nicosia realized she had been selected as colleen, she broke into a huge smile. Her dream had come true. “I don’t think this smile is going away anytime soon,” Nicosia said that evening.
The oldest of the four Agawam colleen contenders, Nicosia said this was her “last chance” to become colleen because of her age. “At 22, I’m the oldest you can be to be a colleen. So, I had one shot — and I guess I did a good job.”
But Nicosia said she didn’t think she had a good chance of becoming colleen since she was competing against three younger contenders.
“I’m three, four years out of high school at this point. The other girls had community service that I haven’t had in years, because I already have a full-time job at this point. I was nervous that the judges would see me differently than the younger girls,” said the Agawam High School graduate.
Becoming colleen, she added, shows that “no matter your age, you shouldn’t be afraid to do something. Even if you think that you’re a little too old for it, you should always just try and see. You never know. You might be surprised by the end results, like I was,” said Nicosia.
Nicosia’s family was very supportive of her during her quest to become a colleen. “My mother and grandmother both helped me tremendously during the preparations. My mother helped me pick out everything, from the dress to the shoes to even how I did my nails. I was very nervous about this, and having her reassurance during it helped.”
She also said she was anxious about the interview portion of the coronation celebration that was conducted by Abaigeal “Abbie” Fiore, president of the committee. “I was very nervous. I was shaking as I walked through the aisles to the podium. My grandfather was my escort and I was holding on to grandpa’s arm for dear life.”
Nicosia said it was important to her to have her maternal grandfather, Al Domaingue, escort her at this event. “He’s always done so much for me. I’m the first grandchild, so we’ve always had a special bond.”
She said her grandfather had been a smoker before she was born, but her mother, Jennifer Domaingue, told him to quit smoking or he would never hold his grandchild. “My grandfather did just that. In a way, having him as my escort was my way of honoring all the sacrifices he’s made for me — big and small.”
She said it means a lot to her to represent Agawam at the Holyoke parade on March 23 as well as at other events and activities during the next year. “It makes me very, very happy. I love doing something with my community and getting to represent not just Agawam but also my Irish heritage. It’s so exciting for me.”
Nicosia attends Holyoke Community College where she is majoring in child and family studies with the goal of becoming a developmental specialist working with special needs children. At AHS, Nicosia was recognized in her senior year with an Academic A award for achieving a high GPA throughout her four years. She was also on the varsity cheerleading team and the competition team.
She works at EB’s Restaurant in Agawam and also has worked as a teacher’s assistant at the Thom Infant and Toddler Services in Westfield, and as a teacher at Impressions Academy of Dance in Agawam.
During her reign as colleen, Nicosia hopes to gain a deeper knowledge of the Irish culture as well as serve as a role model. “As a little girl, I remember looking up to the colleen as she went by and waved at me. I feel I can be a role model for other little Irish girls who are watching me in the parade this year. I hope it will have the same effect on them that it had on me and inspire them to become a colleen when they are older.”
